Michelin tires, 18''

[GeorgeK]

I need some feedback here. I've just put the summer tires back on after this winter.I bought the car this winter with 17'' winter wheels, so this is the first time that I use the Michelins MXX3 on this car. The thing is the following: while they seem good while attacking, they completely lack feedback under no- or light-load conditions. Under the rain, they are simply awful, hydroplaning at every puddle above 120 km/h.
The tires are about 50% worn, the car geometry is OK. This annoys me all the worse because on my older 911 turbo with 400 HP and little load on the front wheels, the Dunlop sp 9000s feel tons better.
this is NOT a subjective feeling, as with the winter tires (Michelin Pilot sport), there was no such wandering.
Any help, and experience with other tires Welcome.
Regards, George

[Don Daniele]

I've got Michelin Pilot Sports too, but mine are not Wintertyres unless you know more then i do!
I'm happy with the new Michelin Pilot Sports

Don Daniele

[GeorgeK]

To clarify:
-Winter tires: Michelin Pilot Alpin, 235/45-17, no problem
-Summer Tires: Michelin MXX3, 245/40-18, the ones causing me concern.
Help and opinions still wanted.
Regards, George

[Don Daniele]

Bevore i mounted the (new Series) Pilots i did run on the MMX too. To me they where very noisy and infact faded a little bit too.
Don't you think you have to much play on your steering box maybe? In my case i helped a lot to adjust the box.

[GeorgeK]

I don't know the new Michelin Pilot, I hope it's better than the MXX3. I know that people swear by the MXX3, but they are not to my liking.
There is no play in the steering box, you are right that it can be a cause of vagueness in the feeling.
I will go to Dunlop SP9000s, which are great on my other cars, unless someone else tells us about some other tire that brings the same combination of wet handling, mileage (these two are my first concern), performance and rolling quietness.
Regards, George

[JonS]

George,

I cannot speak for mileage, but the Yokohama AVS Sport is the best tire I have used yet- especially for the price. They are very sticky and excellent in rain and really not too loud. They are a steal for $180US.

Anyone else use AVS Sports??


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Jon S.
91 M5
90 535i

[RYAN]

How about Bridgestone Potenza S02's

Anyone had any luck with these? I've been told that these are the best all round tire. Especially in the wet, with that water channeling pattern.

[GeorgeK]

The potenzas have a good performance reputation, but from what I gather from my Porsche driving friends, they last at least 300 yards when driven hard...
So not an option on a 4000-lbs car.
I'm still inclined to go Dunlop.
Regards, George

[KKelly]

I have Yoko AVS sports and like them a lot. I have previously had MXX3's. The Yokos are a lot cheaper and quieter. I have a friend with 18" Bridgestone SO2's that got just over 20k miles on his. I wouldn't imagine much better mileage on our cars with any real performance tire. The SP9000 is supposed to ride nice but gives up some response as a trade off.

[Chris]

Ok i´ll try to shade some light in that matter here.

1. Officially released from BMW are MICHELIN MXX§ (now PILOT SPORT), DUNLOP SP xxx, PIRELLI P Zero (P700)

2. The most sportive tire is the MICHELIN, it has also the best brake performance when dry, the Pilot Sport is quite good also under wet cond. I for myself love the MICHELIN very much, because of it´s incredible handling performance. But it´s a hard tire and when worn out more than 50% it´s difficult to control under rainy cond.

3. The DUNLOP is the allround tire may be, but for high speed or tough driving not capable.

4. The PIRELLI is a Italian product, what should i say, i had sets which were amzing, i had sets i gave back after 1000 km´s because of a slippery driving feeling pouh, unbelievable.

But George, i think you should check the geometrie of your front axle again, because i can not believe that the MXX3, even when it´s the best tire in rain, is so bad. Also the tire pressure is very important you should use the MICHELIN recommendation for full load -10%.



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///Chris

[GeorgeK]

Chris,
Your summary is like most I heard, except for the Dunlops. I have been using these on a 1983 911 turbo with around 400 BHP, as well as the older SP8000s, and they are great high speed tires. I freely admit they do not grip like, say, the Bridgestones or the Michelins (when new), but they are so much more predictable. also the SP8000 held 32000 km om the Porsche... driving only for fun and real hard. And in the rain it's no contest, at least IMHO.
The geometry of the front of the M5 has been checked. The thing you said about behaviour when half worn is the most probable explanation, but then why buy to use only until half worn?
By the way, what is the wearing pattern on these cars, between front and rear and inside/outside of the tire?
Still the point is I need a tire which is good in the rain, lasts some, and holds the car on the road. It may seem strange, but for fun driving I have better suited machinery. The M5 is our everyday transportation, and it brings some fun for the daily grind. Not our ultimate sportscar, but the ultimate commuter

[raymondw]

Hello George,

I got my 1990 M5 with Michelin MXX3 and the Michelin is very good at high speed's in the dry. In fact it is the best tyre I have ever had in the dry. But in the wet, the performance is questionable.

The best wet tyre is without any doubt the Good Year Eagle F1, but high speed performance is just average and the Dunlop SP8000 and the Michelin MXX3 are much better in this discipline.

At the moment I am debatting between the Dunlop SP9000 and the Michelin Pilot Sport. For the record I have to tell that I have no experiences with either the Dunlop SP9000 or the Michelin Pilot Sport, so I have to use my experiences with the Dunlop SP8000, Good Year Eagle F1 and the Michelin MXX3 to decide which tyre I will try.

On my previous car I have had very good experiences with the Dunlop SP8000 and they lasted 35000km under very hard driving conditions.

I use my ///M5 more moderate and am a little disapointed that the MXX3's are worn after just 15000km, allthough 6000km where driven in the Alps last summer on Mountain passes and col's in the Alps.

The Dunlop SP9000 has been tested in the German Sport Auto magazine and they where rated a bit better than the Michelins. This fact, together with the better lifespan of the SP9000 compared to the Michelin Pilot Sport is a strong argument for the Dunlop, so I think I'll give them a chance.

The Dunlop SP9000 is available in the "W" rating (<270km/h) and "Y" rating (<300km/h). For my 235/45 ZR17 both have the same price.

With best regards,

Raymond

[GERI]

Hello George

I got an 1993 3.8L M5 and I can just reco